Three Benefits of Becoming a (Zero-Hour) Working Student in Amsterdam

If you’re reading this blog, it probably means that you moved from a far place to study in Amsterdam. And to use the bit of free time – besides your busy student life – to sit in Amsterdam’s cute cafes, cycle through the city, and go out every now and then. This is the typical case for international students but also the reason why many, especially in their first year, often do not want to work on top of that. Studying and working together seem, for some, incompatible.

Speaking from experience, however, I think that working and studying are a great combination. Especially in Amsterdam! And here is why: 

Great places to work at in Amsterdam are Bars and Restaurants!

Reason #1 - You will earn money! ;)

The most obvious reason for why you should start working is, of course, that you will earn money. But let me specify: I don’t mean that you should start working a full-time job in order to buy luxury clothes, save for retirement, or just for the sake of having money. But instead, you can start working, for these little bits of extra opportunities – having a flat white in a café because you just got your tips for the month, inviting a friend for a beer without needing to pay full attention to your bank account balance, or going out and about for a little weekend trip every now and then.

Reason #2 - DUO

The most important but little-known reasons to start working is: DUO. DUO (in long Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs) is an agency of the Dutch government which, among other things, manages student finance. One thing that DUO offers is a basic student grant. This grant contains a monthly financial support of (currently) 350€ and a so-called OV card, which allows you to use Dutch public transport for free on either weekends or weekdays, and with a 40% discount for the other half of the week. Essentially, by working in the Netherlands, you not only earn your wage, but on top of that, get extra financial support. And the only thing you have to do for this is submit an application on the DUO website: https://duo.nl/particulier/student-finance-citizens-eu-eer-switzerland-or-uk/application.jsp 

A few more details about the grant are important to know: Dutch students get this grant unconditionally. International students from the EU, Switzerland, and the UK must fulfil certain conditions. That is, you have to be enrolled in a university degree and work at least 32 hours per month. Unfortunately, international students from outside the EU are not eligible for the grant. More on eligibility criteria about the grant, you can find on this website: https://duo.nl/particulier/student-finance/eligibility.jsp  

Reason #3 - Zero-Hour contracts

The next reason is a counterargument to you saying that you can’t commit to a time-consuming job: zero-hour contracts. Many places in the Netherlands – cafes, restaurants, gyms, and others – offer zero-hour contracts. With these contracts, you are not obliged to work a certain number of hours per month, but you can adapt your work to your schedule. This, of course, can depend on your specific employer, but generally, it offers a lot of flexibility. It allows you to use periods of free time to work, while also focusing on your studies during busy periods. Speaking from experience, I have weeks in which I work three times a week, and others in which I do not work at all.  

Reason #4 - Fun!

The last reason might be debatable, but I stand by it: It is fun to work! You can meet a lot of fun people, learn a lot of fun skills, and sometimes just get a fun distraction from your everyday student life. I, for example, worked at a bar for the last two years, and it is now one of my favourite places in Amsterdam – I learned to make barista-style coffees, made some great friends, and also got my friends a free night of drinks every now and then ;)

So, if that doesn’t convince you…

Working in a Café can teach you skills like latte art!

Start working!

I’d say you should get on your bike, cycle through the city and have a look at which cool places are looking for people right now. Especially in hospitality and especially in summer, you’ll easily find a job in Amsterdam. Have fun, and thank me later!